In 1994, Gene Kelly made his last on-screen appearance, hosting “That’s Entertainment”. His last words were on the big screen were, “The song has ended, but the melody lingers on”. That is the way, millions of his fans felt when Gene died, February 2, 1996.

Gene Kelly, the dancer, actor, director and choreographer, brought a vigorous athleticism, casual grace, and earthly masculinity to the Hollywood musicals. A gifted dancer, he also flourished as an innovative choreographer and director in the 1940s and 1950’s, the heyday of the big, splashy Hollywood musical.

Millions of moviegoers remember Mr. Kelly dancing merrily in a downpour in “Singin’ in the Rain, “hoofing with an animated mouse Jerry in “Anchors Aweigh,” and hopping over garbage cans in a sequence in “It’s Always Fair Weather.”

In “Cover Girl, “co-starring with Rita Heyworth in 1944 provided the key spark to his career. With the help of Stanley Donen, with whom he was to direct and choreograph several movies, Mr. Kelly developed the celebrated “alter ego” solo dance. Photographed separately, then combined in a single strip of film, the two Kelly images seemed to pursue each other up and down flights of steps, to threaten each other and leap over each other’s heads. A favorable critic commented that Kelly’s dance advanced the plot.

Kelly commented that he made a startling discovery when making his first picture. He felt that dancing on the stage was three-dimensional but a motion picture was two-dimensional. He therefore tried to invent the dance to fit the camera and its movements. Mr. Kelly’s choreographic inventiveness was credited with the trail-blazing live- dance with-animation sequence in “Anchors Aweigh” in 1945. He danced with Jerry the mouse from the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon series. Mr. Kelly danced with his friend Fred Astaire in “Babbit and the Bomide.”  Their different styles were emphasized. Fred Astaire was intimate, cool, and easy. Mr. Kelly was strong, and wide open.

In 1951, “An American in Paris,” won eight Academy Awards, including best picture of the year. “An American in Paris” was the film that pushed Gene to superstar level. Gene got an honorary award, including one for “his versatility as an actor, singer, dancer, director, and choreography. Mr. Kelly received a special Oscar for his contributions to screen choreography. An integral part of the film was a 17-minute ballet conceived by Mr. Kelly. Costumes, sets and dance movements were borrowed from the styles of such artists a Renoir, Rousseau, Van Gogh, and Toulouse-Lautrec. “Singin’ in the Rain,” released in 1952 was one of the last of the big MGM musicals. In the tile number, a love-struck Mr. Kelly, with an umbrella, sang and splashed ecstatically through a downpour. The sequence is regarded as a classic piece of cinematic choreography.

Mr. Kelly believed the public could be taught to appreciate dance, and used athletes to demonstrate the sheer physicality and manliness of dance, often viewed by Americans as an effete art.

Some of the highlights of his Career.

Films

  • For Me and My Gal 1942
  • Anchors Aweigh 1945
  • Take Me Out to the Ball Game 1949
  • On the Town 1949
  • An American in Paris 1951
  • Singin in the Rain 1952
  • 40 Carats 1973

Theatre

  • ​Pal Joe 1940